Messianic SabbathA daily break in your day to celebrate our salvation in Yeshua (Jesus) and our abundant life through the Torah

The New Moon – Who Knew?

New Moon Observance

I had been reading the five books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) every year for five years and observing the Sabbath, Feasts and Festivals for five years. But as many times as I’ve read the Bible and practiced the Feasts, God never fails to show me new insights every time. This year has been no exception.

I had signed up to speak on the portion of scripture called “Phineas,” Numbers 25-30. Not knowing what I would speak about, I figured there was plenty to choose from. Numbers 28-29 are commonly referred to for teachings on observing God’s appointed times or Holy Days.

As I came to those chapters, I read quickly through the list: The daily offerings, the Sabbath, the New Moon, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost… Wait, the New Moon? When did they start that? Is that one of God’s appointed times? Why have I never observed this day? I decided I had to look into this.

I immediately turned back to Leviticus 23, which is the first place in the Bible where all God’s appointed times are spelled out. There was no mention of a celebration on the New Moon. In fact, the first mention of the New Moon celebration is in Numbers 10, where it specifies that the trumpets should be sounded over the offerings, including offerings for the New Moon. The offerings themselves or any other details of the New Moon observance are not mentioned until the list in Numbers 28.

These reminded me of observances of some of the other appointed times:

The offerings are very similar to those commanded for the daily offering, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost.

Avoiding buying and selling is also commanded on the Sabbath.

The Sabbath and The Feast of Tabernacles are also both mentioned as appointed times we’ll be celebrating in the Millennium.

The New Moon celebration occurs the same day as the Feast of Trumpets and includes blowing the trumpet over the offering, as do many of the offerings presented for other purposes.

However, its unique distinctions are what I found most compelling about the New Moon:

Unlike others of God’s appointed times, the New Moon will never be the same day of the week or the same day year after year. This requires us to note a timeframe on our calendar, but look for the sliver of moon every month. Not having a set day each month (i.e. the third Thursday) or year (i.e. the 5thof June) challenges us to interrupt our normal schedule and break our routine. For planners like me, this is a great gauge as to the priority of my appointments with God. How easily can I be interrupted by God? How quickly will I change my schedule for Him?

The New Moon is the only appointed time not mentioned in the original list of them in Leviticus 23. I could not find an explanation in the Bible for the omission of the New Moon in Lev. 23. As I thought about the idea of not designating this until later and how it reminds us of many of the other appointed times, I wondered if God added it as a monthly reminder for us to watch for the other appointed times.

Genesis 1:14 tells us one of the reasons the sun, moon and stars were created was to “serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years.” Although the sun indicates the season and the time of day, it cannot tell us what day it is, only the moon can. The moon is what determines the months and God’s appointed times. Could the New Moon be our day each month to acknowledge that we are keeping track of the days and God’s appointed times? It just may be a specific day designated for us to mark off where we are on His calendar, a chance to say, “I’m on your schedule and excited to be another month closer to one of your special days!”

However you decide to observe the New Moon, let the spontaneity and the other special times it reminds us of guide you to a meaningful personal expression of thanksgiving to God for His faithfulness to us from month to month.

3 responses

Nicole

I had read somewhere that before Christ people had to watch for the new moon – specifically when it started to crest- imagine that! how joyous they must have been seeing it happen. At least that’s what I think…. we take a lot for granted these days – everything is calculated- technology even though good has somehow replaced the basic things we did. Watching for the new moon to me would strengthen any relationship – I believe that God speaks to us through Creation and by walking in faith towards His instructions we get to know Him more and love Him more…but so too even now He tells us to do things and we must obey and therein lies our true testimony – serving Him in obedience.

Jo, You’re right, it’s not always possible to “observe” the new moon. I have learned that while it is awesome to be able to to, the idea of observing is more in terms of honoring or practicing, i.e. observing the Sabbath. Actually looking at the moon is not all there is to the new moon observance. You can do the rest of it as YHVH leads you.